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Movies / On DVD / A Knight's Tale
A Knight's Tale

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A Knight's Tale (2001)

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Reviews Counted:33

Fresh:19

Rotten:14

Average Rating:5.7/10

Consensus: Once you get past the anachronism, A Knight's Tale becomes a predictable, if spirited, Rocky on horseback.

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for action violence, some nudity and brief sex-related dialogue

Runtime: 2 hrs 24 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

Theatrical Release:May 11, 2001 Wide

Box Office: $55,001,689

Synopsis: In the Middle Ages, before television or professional sports, there is only one form of competition to separate the men from the boys: jousting tournaments. William Thatcher (Heath Ledger), a poor... In the Middle Ages, before television or professional sports, there is only one form of competition to separate the men from the boys: jousting tournaments. William Thatcher (Heath Ledger), a poor and humble squire, has always dreamed of proving himself worthy as a knight. When he gets a lucky chance--seeing an opportunity to disguise himself in the identity of a knight--William decides to maintain the illusion for as long as possible. He is aided by his friends Wat, Roland, and Geoffrey Chaucer--a writer with a knack for forging official papers. Under his new title, Sir Ulrich of Liechtenstein, William wins tournaments and receives monetary awards. However, the only way for William to prove himself as truly noble is to beat out all of his enemies, including the arrogant and undefeated Count Adhemar (Rufus Sewell), in a series of jousts. Once he does so, William will reveal his his true identity. Writer-director Brian Helgeland creates a unique blend of rousing adventure, comedy, and modern sensibility in A KNIGHT'S TALE, giving a contemporary make-over to the medieval genre with a soundtrack that includes hit songs from Queen, David Bowie, Sly & The Family Stone, and Thin Lizzy. [More]

Starring: Heath Ledger, Mark Addy, Paul Bettany, Shannyn Sossamon

Starring: Heath Ledger, Mark Addy, Paul Bettany, Shannyn Sossamon, Laura Fraser, Rufus Sewell, Christopher Cazenove, Alan Tudyk

Director: Brian Helgeland

Director: Brian Helgeland
Screenwriter: Curtis Hanson, Brian Helgeland
Composer: Carter Burwell
Studio: Columbia Pictures

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Release:

Jan 6, 2009

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • A KNIGHT'S TALE is the rousing story of lowborn William Thatcher's (Ledger) quest to change his stars, win the heart of an exceedingly fair maiden (Sossamon) and rock his medieval world. Follow this fearless squire and his band of medieval misfits as they careen their way toward impossible glory that's part romance, part road trip and part exuberant swashbuckler.
  • Source: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
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    Reviews for A Knight's Tale

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    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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    Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
    07/22/08
    Todd McCarthy
    Todd McCarthy
    Variety
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Denver Rocky Mountain News | comment Comment
    08/09/02
    Robert Denerstein
    Robert Denerstein
    Denver Rocky Mountain News
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: New York Magazine | comment Comment
    08/06/01
    Peter Rainer
    Peter Rainer
    New York Magazine
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    The movie promises to rock you, and much of the time it does.

    Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
    06/11/01
    Rita Kempley
    Rita Kempley
    Washington Post
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    The result is half Python, half Ivanhoe -- and not as much fun as either.

    Full Review Source: TIME Magazine | comment Comment
    06/04/01
    Richard Schickel
    Richard Schickel
    TIME Magazine
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    N/R

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    Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper | comment Comment
    05/17/01
    Ebert & Roeper
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Essentially, it's a screenful of pseudo-medieval popcorn that hits a high enough level of goofy fun to transcend a pretty blatant marketing strategy aimed at the MTV demographic.

    comment Comment
    05/14/01
    Jay Carr
    Jay Carr
    Boston Globe
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    May please aficionados of oldies stations and Xtreme sports but few others.

    Full Review Source: USA Today | comment Comment
    05/11/01
    Susan Wloszczyna
    Susan Wloszczyna
    USA Today
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Basically a thrift-store bin of borrowed ideas and careworn teen cliches, A Knight's Tale executes one of the most drastic wastes of promise this side of a gifted high school slackoff.

    Full Review Source: Toronto Star | comment Comment
    05/11/01
    Geoff Pevere
    Geoff Pevere
    Toronto Star
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    More often than not, it's fun.

    Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
    05/11/01
    Bob Graham
    Bob Graham
    San Francisco Chronicle
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    It will rock you -- straight to sleep.

    Full Review Source: Salon.com | comment Comment
    05/11/01
    Stephanie Zacharek
    Stephanie Zacharek
    Salon.com
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Shamelessly manipulative.

    Full Review Source: Newsday | comment Comment
    05/11/01
    Gene Seymour
    Gene Seymour
    Newsday
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    A solidly entertaining popcorn movie.

    Full Review Source: New York Post | comment Comment
    05/11/01
    Lou Lumenick
    Lou Lumenick
    New York Post
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Spirited but uneven.

    Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
    05/11/01
    Louis B. Parks
    Louis B. Parks
    Houston Chronicle
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Take it for what it is and you'll find it quite enjoyable, especially if you're a female between 9 and, oh, 79.

    Full Review Source: Detroit News | comment Comment
    05/11/01
    Susan Stark
    Susan Stark
    Detroit News
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    A Knight's Tale should be ridiculous, and it is: ridiculously entertaining.

    comment Comment
    05/11/01
    Terry Lawson
    Terry Lawson
    Detroit Free Press
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Predictable and repetitive.

    Full Review Source: Denver Post | comment Comment
    05/11/01
    Steven Rosen
    Steven Rosen
    Denver Post
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    The results at best are highly uneven, but still interesting. At worst they are strained and repetitive. It all depends on your tolerance level towards gimmicks, and your desire level for something -- anything -- different.

    Full Review Source: CNN.com | comment Comment
    05/11/01
    Paul Clinton (CNN.com)
    Paul Clinton (CNN.com)
    CNN.com
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    The movie has an innocence and charm that grow on you.

    Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
    05/11/01
    Roger Ebert
    Roger Ebert
    Chicago Sun-Times
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    By the time the big grudge match comes around and William and the no-account Count Adhemar (Rufus Sewell) meet in center court, whatever charm and good humor were engendered by this adventure have long since worn off.

    comment Comment
    05/11/01
    Glenn Lovell
    Glenn Lovell
    San Jose Mercury News
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
     
     
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